South Africa’s Motlanthe In Turkey For Mutual Talks
By SA News
South Africa Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe arrived in Ankara, Turkey, on Thursday to commence a two-day working visit in that country.
Motlanthe’s visit forms part of strengthening existing bilateral, political and economic relations between South Africa and Turkey, the Presidency said.
The Deputy President is scheduled to co-chair a Bi-National Commission (BNC), established between the two countries last year, with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Deputy President Motlanthe will meet with Prime Minister Erdogan, to discuss among other things, cooperation on energy and defence.
The total bilateral trade between South Africa and Turkey increased slightly to R7 billion in 2011. South Africa’s major exports to Turkey comprised, amongst others, mineral products, base metals, machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment, products of the chemical or allied products, vehicles, aircrafts, vessels, iron and steel, organic chemicals, ores, slag and ash.
Motlanthe is accompanied by the Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu and the Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Ebrahim Ebrahim.
